Shocked by Dawei's performance, the Great Sage Diosse issued an instant mission reward.
[System Prompt: You have received the favor of the Goddess!][System Tip: You have completed the mission "Eradicate Evil!" Rewards: EXP gained, +5 skill books, increased World Reputation…]
The nearby NPCs looked stunned. Dawei grinned to himself—Shocked? You should be! I'm even more shocked than you! Their bug-eyed, slack-jawed expressions made Dawei feel smugly satisfied.
Still, something was off. Where were the god-tier skills? He glanced through the reward list again. No divine-level abilities? Was the system stingy, or just playing with him?
Just as Dawei frowned, Diosse followed up with another wave of system prompts. But still—no mention of divine skills. He finally couldn't hold back and asked, "That's it? No skills to teach me?"
Diosse laughed heartily. "You defeated Sindro. There's nothing more I could teach you."
So that was that. Even the basic skills were off the table. NPC's stance was clear—no more skill rewards. Dawei squinted. Am I missing a step?
Then it hit him—the Doom Badge!
He pulled the corrupted badge out and handed it to Diosse. The great sage stared at it for a long moment, his face filled with complicated emotions.
[System Prompt: The Great Sage Diosse's favorability towards you has increased — now at: Favor +!][System Prompt: Your reputation in the Hermit Camp has increased — now at: Appreciation!][System Alert: You've completed the hidden quest: "Heart of the Strong!"]
Wait, what? "Heart of the Strong"? Dawei was stunned. He didn't remember ever accepting such a quest. There was no record of it in his main or side missions related to the Cursed Forest.
[Heart of the Strong]: Passive hidden quest. Trigger condition: Pass the test of the Great Sage Diosse.]
So it was one of those quests—secret, passive, and only known to the NPC. He let out a low chuckle. "See? I knew giving you that badge wasn't just for decoration."
Diosse finally spoke, his voice grave. "Before he was consumed by darkness, Hindlow was a noble Doom Knight who fought against evil his entire life. But he fell to temptation and became a vampire. That badge represents his former glory—and it was my final test for you."
Dawei's eyes widened.
Diosse continued, "When you took on the mission to capture Montico, you didn't hesitate to seek strength from me. As a warrior chosen by the gods, I saw Hindlow's shadow within you."
So that was the catch! Looking back, Dawei remembered Diosse giving him a corrupted potion and unlocking the alchemist class. At the time, the system just said the quest difficulty had increased. He had no idea it was part of a hidden storyline.
Scanning the earlier system prompts, it all started to make sense. He had always thought the quest became harder—but in reality, the rewards became harder to earn. If he'd used the badge to unlock a class early, he might have missed the full reward entirely.
Good thing I'm a veteran player. I dodged that trap. Dawei grinned.
Diosse placed a firm hand on Dawei's shoulder. "A true warrior isn't defined by power alone, but by the strength of his heart—the will to stand for justice even when temptation looms large. You've proven yourself. I'm glad I was right about you."
[System Prompt: The Great Sage Diosse is offering you a hidden reward. Accept? Yes / No]
Without hesitation, Dawei chose Yes.
Then—bam!—a new skill interface opened.
A selection of ten skill books appeared on-screen, each glowing with power. He clicked on one:
[Sacred Recovery] — Grandmaster SkillCooldown: 1 dayEffect 1: Instantly heals all units in a 50x50 radius by +500 HP; healing increased by 300% over 40 seconds.Effect 2: Blinds all enemy units for 2 minutes (can be interrupted).Effect 3: Unknown (must learn to unlock).
He clicked another:
[Rapid Production] — God-level SkillCooldown: 3 daysEffect 1: Territory building production speed +40%Effect 2: All production units gain +30% daily outputEffect 3: Reduces cooldown of territory building functions by 40%Effect 4: Unknown (must learn to unlock)
Dawei's heartbeat quickened. These weren't just powerful—they were insane. All ten were at least Grandmaster level. Some, like Sacred Recovery, were personal combat skills, while others, like Rapid Production, boosted territory growth and resource generation.
And unlike some shiny but useless drops, these were the real deal—functional, high-end, and immediately impactful.
Of course, the books were bound and non-tradable. But that didn't cool his burning excitement. Divine-tier skills! This was what players dreamed about.
He took a deep breath. Stay calm. Think logically. Don't let the glow distract you.
He'd made a name for himself already, auctioning powerful gear. Money wouldn't be a problem. What mattered now was choosing the skill that fit his long-term path best.
Dawei went silent, analyzing each skill carefully.
God-tier or not, the real power… is choosing what's right.